Mental Health Awareness day at Monash

"We want to let the students know that we are here for them and we will help where we can" says counselling psychologist, Stephen Laverack.

Photo by: Queen Dithebe

In an attempt to combat the fear and anxiety that accompanies the transition from high school to the independent varsity experience, Student Development gave students the opportunity to engage in an open mic session addressing these issues. During this open mic sessions with mental health professionals and exhibitors students were able to voice their opinions about what the university could do to help students that are struggling. Students were granted the opportunity to speak to experts from different agencies, support groups and psychiatric disciplines.

 

 

 

Photos by: Queen Dithebe

"We are here to help and to prevent future problems that could affect students overall mental health. We are also going to make it a priority to brainstorm ideas about how we could get more students to utilize this platform that we give them."

Laverack says that there will "most definitely" be more mental health campaigns this semester.

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"Membership cards are actually a great idea", says second year student Lesego Ramaila

Photo by: Queen Dithebe



Students are pleased with the implementation of the new membership card system at the campus gym. Lesego Ramaila, a second year student at the university says the new system allow will ensure strict control over who comes to the gym and that there is more space for students and staff to work out.

The Monash gymnasium experienced problems in the second semester of 2014 with students who attended gym sessions and used the equipment free of charge. The students would be caught coming very early in the mornings when the gym supervisor, Steve Tromp, was not present. This lead to many paying students complaining about the understaffing and overcrowding in the gym.

The new membership cards state the students name, student number, and the term for which the student is covered. This allows the newly appointed gym assistants to identify gym members when the gym manager is not there.

says that they are monitoring the effectiveness of this new system daily. "Our main intention was to create sufficient space for everyone that works out. We this new system and the new equipment that will be coming in later in the semester hope to attract new students this year."





Photo by: Queen Dithebe
 

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